I was born and grew up in Huntington, WV. I have always loved the sport of bodybuilding. I joined Gold’s Gym, when I was 12 years old. I worked out for fun for the health benefits. I did not work out for competition until after my attack. I attended the Arnold Classic 25th Anniversary in 2013, and met another wheelchair bodybuilder, and he told me there were shows that allowed wheelchair athletes. I competed twice in 2013. And every year since then. After my attack, I did a lot of artwork, and sold it at art shows. Once I discovered wheelchair bodybuilding competitions, I have devoted all of my time to the sport.
I was walking home one night with a cup of coffee in my hand. An SUV pulled up with 5 guys inside, and 3 jumped out. The 21 year old had a gun, and pistol whipped me. They fractured my skull, broke my orbital bone, and cheek bone. They knocked my front teeth out. They kicked me and broke my ribs, and collapsed my lungs. This happened on a Saturday night, right after midnight, so it was actually Sunday. I layed in pool of blood until sun up, when someone discovered me. I coded 5 times in ER. I was in coma 6 weeks. I spent the next 4 months in a nursing home, with a trach, and feeding tube. I was moved to a rehab hospital, where I developed a septic infection, and that landed me in intensive care for 11 days. I refused to go back to any hospital, and moved in with my friend and caretaker. I was eventually able to live on my own. The juvenile spent 1 year in boot camp. The 18 year old spent 8 years in jail. The 21 year old with the gun, was sentenced to 40 years, but was let out in 11 years. He got drunk and high, and ran over 2 sisters in a walmart parking lot. One died a week leter. He is still awaiting trial for vehicular manslaughter. I have a closed brain injury, and have left arm neglect, and cannot walk, and am legally blind, and have some hearing loss.
I have always loved the sport, and started working out to help me recover. That is one thing they did not take away from me. Then I heard there were competitions that allowed wheelchair bodybuilders to enter, I knew then, that is what I wanted to do the rest of my life.
After being at the Arnold Classic in 2013, I knew right away, I wanted to enter the first competition I could find. I entered the Southern Isle Bodybuilding show. I took 2nd place out of 3 competitors. At that point, I knew I wanted to compete again.
I work out at home, with help from 3 of my closest friends. I started studying, and watching bodybuilding videos to learn as much about competing as I possibly could. I learned from the guys at the shows, and kept in touch with them. I have 3 rooms full of equipment. It is too difficult for me to travel to a gym.
WIth my permanent brain injury, I cannot work, so bodybuilding became my career.
Bodybuilding is a huge sacrifice, so you should decide from the beginning, if this sport is for you. If it is, never give up. It takes a lot of work and dedication, especially in the diet aspect. If you cannot eat clean, and stick to a strict bodybuilding diet, then this sport is not for you.
• Amateur Contest History
2023 Arnold Amateur : 3rd Place
2019 NPC Wheelchair Nationals : 1st Place
2019 NPC Wheelchair Nationals : 2nd Place
2018 NPC Wheelchair Nationals : 2nd Place
2018 NPC Wheelchair Nationals : 3rd Place
2016 NPC Wheelchair Nationals : 3rd Place
2015 Southern Isles Bodybuilding : 1st Place
2014 Southern Isles Bodybuilding : 1st Place
2014 NPC Flint/Mid MIchigan : 1st Place
2013 Southern Isles Bodybuilding : 2nd Place
2013 INBF Cardinal Classic : 1st Place
